Wooden Furniture
Wood is a natural material. Veins and knots are part of the nature of the wood, and not two pieces of wooden furniture can be totally alike. Colours and structures of the wood changes throughout life, and therefore we recommend all surfaces to be left “clean” for a couple of months, to avoid discoloration – because of sunlight, and changes in humidity – from vases, knick-knacks and similar. Changes in the colour of the wood can be postponed by protecting the wood against sunlight, and to avoid fluctuating humidity of the atmosphere. Use a moist cloth for cleaning, and of course spilt water must be removed immediately. Solid wood might warp by change in humidity, meaning that e.g. table tops might become rough or slightly bended, and might get star shakes – small cracks between the veins, which are of no importance for the durability. Solid wood must be able to “breathe”. For this reason you may never cover solid wooden furniture with e.g. plastic or oilcloth for more than 12 hours running. If the wood cannot “breathe” – it will crack. Do not keep wooden furniture in non-heated rooms. Protect wooden furniture against heat from pots, radiators and similar, and never use indoor furniture at the terrace. If chair legs become wet, colour might come off on the carpet, which you must remember by cleaning the carpet.
Maintenance
Untreated wooden furniture
Before you start to use the furniture, it is important to treat the wood. You can treat the furniture with either soap, oil, or wax. If you wish to maintain the natural colour, we recommend using transparent wax.
Soap treated wooden furniture
Before starting to use the soap treated furniture, please wipe. Use a soap solution consisting of ¼ decilitre soap flakes for 1 litre of water. Cool till lukewarm. Same treatment for dirty surfaces. Always use a clean, dry cotton cloth. Never use soft soap. Scraps of soap must immediately be removed with a clean, dry cloth. Cross-cut end of timber may not absorb, wood may only be easily wiped. Back- and undersides should also be treated, otherwise the top might warp. Clean carefully with a soft brush, and remember to wipe immediately. Grease marks, which do no disappear by this treatment, might be removed with benzene. Once the wood has been treated in this way, the fibres might rise slightly. If so, sandpaper the veins lengthwise with fine sandpaper. Never use steel wool, as this might cause rust stains.
Wax treated wooden furniture
Clean and wipe with a dry cloth, never use a moist cloth. Spilt wine, coffee and similar must be wiped immediately. Especially spirits might leave spots, if not removed immediately. Only try to remove spots if the surface is dry. Carefully cleaning might take place with mineral spirits – remember to wipe dry. Sandpaper the veins lengthwise with fine sandpaper. The surface must be re-treated with a thin layer of furniture wax. Follow the instructions or ask in the shop.
Lacquered wooden furniture
Use a clean dry or moist cloth. Most sealings stand soap and mild cleaning materials. Has the surface grown matt or scratched, lacquer care can be used. Follow the instructions or ask in the shop. Materials containing silicone may not be used. Lacquered surfaces should only be sanded by a professional. Please note that certain elderly furniture and period furniture with polished surface do not stand any moisture.
Oil treated wooden furniture
Use a clean, dry cloth or a moist soap cloth or mild detergent. Wipe immediately. Should the surface turn dirty, you must add wood oil. In stead you might use a mixture of 1 part of Vaseline oil and 2 parts of mineral spirits. Has the surface been too oiled, the oil must be removed with mineral spirits. After wiping, a new thin layer must be added. Follow the instruction or ask in the shop. Please note that oil cloths might ignite spontaneously. Therefore you must place the cloths in an airtight tin or wet them and dispose after use. If necessary you might sand in the oil lengthwise the veins to get a smooth surface. Use emery paper.
White Wash wooden furniture
Must be given a finishing treatment with wood oil. Follow the instructions or ask in the shop. Missing finishing treatment might dry the wood and cause damages like cracks, and warped surfaces. Indentations might be repaired by using wood oil.
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Contact
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information or have some questions. We will do our best to help you.
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